Odysea Aquarium, Scottsdale, AZ
Well, this is the second time if not the third I am writing this post! My internet went out the first go around and I hadn’t save anything past the first picture and then I am not sure what has happened to my post when I finished writing it. Did I not save it at all? Who knows? Anyhow, when we were in Scottsdale, we decided to visit the Odysea Aquarium since it was an indoor activities and our family love animals! The globe tank below is one of several that welcomes you at the entrance of aquarium.
I was prepared to be wowed since the price was pretty steep for an aquarium ($39.95 for adults, $29.99 for children). We haven’t been to as many aquariums as zoos but living close to Atlanta and not too far from Chattanooga, I have been many times to the Georgia aquarium especially when it first opened and we had a membership to the Tennessee aquarium last year. Both admissions are cheaper than the Odysea’s (granted the Georgia aquarium is only cheaper by a few cents). All this to say, that I have two impressive aquariums to compare it with.
The first floor we visited (after losing our 7 year old and finding him after a short term scare) was the touch feel tanks. Above are the russian sturgeons and below are the anemones and abalones.
I have read about abalone in different stories but have never taken the time to search what they looked like. I was happy to see some and touch some for the first time. The anemones are so soft you feel like you are not touching anything at all.
I always enjoy seeing strange ocean creatures: this walking fish sure is strange and cool. What about the flounders with eyes on top! And that look at that fish”standing” in the algae?
See the fish standing below?
While the displays did not have grandiose effect like the giant tanks at the Georgia aquarium, one part of the aquarium that we all raved about was the Odysea Voyager.
“Guests take their seats in a stadium-seating style theatre with 46 ft. viewing windows for the “world’s only revolving aquarium experience.” As the journey begins, they are then “submerged” into a “submarine” and taken through a narrated twenty-minute storytelling adventure where guests to OdySea Aquarium” (from the Odysea website). I enjoyed the narration that really gave up lots of information about the sharks, sea lions and other creatures we observed.
The shark tank actually also has a viewing window from the men’s bathroom!
Another part of the aquarium that I enjoyed was the different photo opportunities especially those where you can compare yourselves with different animals such as the penguins or the turtles. I enjoyed our visit to the Odysea aquarium, it was a nice reprieve from the heat but I do think it is overpriced. I think it should be at least 10 dollars cheaper per person. It is however a nice aquarium with some pretty cool features!
A bientôt!
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22 Comments
Penny
Oh wow, yes those prices especially if you have more than one child! Looks good though. Brighton has an aquarium which is apprently the oldest aquarium in the world! Maybe it is as it opened in 1872. As always nice to see aspects of the States that are not on the usual tourist trail.
mimifce
Yes, with our family, it is not cheap for sure.
jodie filogomo
This is the only one we have ever seen, so we didn’t have anything to compare it to. But we are going to the butterfly wonderland which is right next door, later this week.
We also liked the tunnel you could walk through that had water all around it. Maybe all aquariums do that??
I know when we went, many things were different because of the pandemic, but it was a nice place to get out of the heat.
That’s so annoying about all of the tech issues, UGH,
XOOX
jodie
http://www.Jtouchofstyle.com
mimifce
We enjoyed being indoors for sure! I think a lot of them have tunnels like that nowadays, it is always cool to see the fish above you!
Veronica Lee
It is pricey but the acquarium sounds awesome.
I enjoyed the tour with you. Love the photo especially the strange ocean creatures.
mimifce
We are going to the Georgia Aquarium tomorrow and I cannot wait to share a blog post about that one!
Jennifer
This is pricey but the acquarium looks wonderful! Allurerage
Thetrendybride
mimifce
There were some fun creatures for sure and some nice displays.
Mica
I love the kimono you wore 🙂 looks like such a fun trip even if you felt it a little overpriced. Sorry you had technical issues too, so frustrating when that happens!
Hope you are having a good week 🙂
mimifce
It was really a fun state to visit. Have a great weekend!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
What a fun aquarirum! We just went to the aquarium in Myrtle Beach and enjoyed it. Our internet went out for almost a week, it was brutal!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
mimifce
We just went to the Georiga aquarium too! My pictures don’t do that one justice.
Lovely
The revolving aquarium experience sounds great! Thanks for sharing these pictures with us! Have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
mimifce
Enjoy your weekend too!
Sally in St Paul
I love seeing an aquarium and enjoyed this vicarious visit. I didn’t realize that some sea turtles could be that long!
mimifce
Those walls with the different sizes of animals were pretty cool: it is easier to understand size that way!
Amy
I have never been to a full aquarium because I think the prices are too high everywhere. It must cost a lot of money to keep them going. The only time I see aquariums is at a normal zoo or Sea World, I’ve also been to the one at the Mall of America which was really cool.
mimifce
We ended up going to the Georgia aquarium yesterday and I ended up adding the year pass: will pay for itself with one more visit.
Joanne
Our nearest aquarium is up to something like $48 for an adult and I think $38 or so for kids… and it’s pretty small. I feel like the prices just keep jumping up too! We love the aquarium and bought a family membership for a few years making sure to go a good 1/2 dozen times each of those years. That Odysea experience sounds really neat.
mimifce
That is pretty expensive!
Shelbee on the Edge
It looks like a really cool experience, Mireille! But yikes, the price is a bit steep! I suppose all the prices everywhere are pretty sttep right now with the labor shortage! I love aquariums but haven’t been to one in years. Jeff just took the boys to the VIA Aquarium in Schenectady, NY, but I was away and missed out on that adventure! Thanks for sharing these amazing photos and linking with me!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
mimifce
It was definitely steep for what it was and with 6 of us… That’s why I just ended up getting some memberships for the zoo and aquarium here: we will visit a few times and will definitely get our money’s worth.